Getting Out of Our Comfort Zone

Posted on September 18, 2014 by phjiao

My hubby and I have been married for more than three years, it has gone by fast! Luckily, we have a good marriage and get along very well, he is my best friend and the love of my life. We both have busy schedules, but always try to find time to do things together. When we first got married, we went to the gym together. I’d get up at 4am to go to the gym with him, he’d workout with a trainer while I exercised on the treadmill and machines. We also played tennis and racquetball in the evenings, and every once in a while go for rides on our bicycles. Occasionally, my hubby played golf and I would accompany him. I’d walk the course (to get some exercise), watch him, sometimes drive the cart, then we’d have lunch or dinner together. We’ve been to some beautiful golf courses!

My hubby wanted me to start playing golf with him and even though that sport has never been of my interest, I agreed to learn. I hadn’t taken an interest in golf for multiple reasons: it takes many hours to play 9 or 18 holes, you spend the day in the sun (I already spend lots of hours in the sun due to work related events and try to avoid being out in the sun all day to reduce sun damage to my skin), it takes lots of hours or practice to get good at the sport and it may require lessons, you don’t burn as many calories or get a cardio workout as you do with other sports, and it is expensive. Having said all that, when my husband asked me to learn, I chose to learn because I knew it would be a way to spend time together doing something he enjoys. Don’t take me wrong, I think golf is an amazing sport that requires skill and discipline, and you get to play on beautiful courses!

We bought all the necessary golf items and clothing, even a hat for me! We went to hit balls a few times, but I never played on a course with him because I am not really good and we didn’t want to slow down other people playing with him or behind us.

Fast forward about two years and our schedules got hectic, my hubby had knee survey and got tennis elbow. He was unable exercise at the gym, play tennis, racquetball, or golf. His knee is recuperating and his elbow is doing better. He doesn’t like going for walks and hasn’t wanted to ride the bicycle, so we have tried to find other ways for him to exercise. I have been exercising with friends and started going to the gym in the evenings, but have reduced the time I spend at the gym because we no longer go together.

Recently, my comadre Marissa started to learn to play golf and her husband plays regularly. They invited us to join them for a day on the golf course. She is still learning and I told her I wasn’t very good. But, we didn’t care! We wanted to practice and have fun on the golf course with our husbands. We played late on a Sunday afternoon, we were the last foursome out and had the entire course to ourselves. That was good since we would have definitely slowed down the golfers behind us or just let them go ahead of us. Our husbands were understanding and giving us tips. We played 9 holes, had fun, lots of laughs, and enjoyed time with friends!

I went out of my comfort zone and played golf – played it very badly, but at least I gave it a try and had fun. By each hole Marissa and I were getting progressively better and by the end weren’t doing that bad. It made me want to get out on the putting green and go to a golf field to hit some balls to practice, learn, and improve my game.

My husband’s knee was hurting after we played golf that day, but he said he’d go golfing with me again soon. I’ll be back out on the golf course and get better every time 🙂

Getting out of our comfort zone and trying new things can be a good experience! We have nothing to lose, don’t avoid doing something just because you aren’t good at it or are embarrassed others will see you, practice and in time, you’ll get better! For all you know, you can open up an interest or passion in you which you weren’t aware existed! Just have fun with it!

When was the last time you tried a new sport? When was the last time you did something outside of your comfort zone?

Hugs,

Paola

The golf course is beautiful and the weather was perfect that afternoon!

With my comadre Marissa, we’ve been friends since college!

I hit a lucky shot, more than a hundred yards & made it onto the putting green, close to the hole (you can see hole about 12 feet to the right of my ball & about 5 feet in front of the orange ball). That was exciting!

Healthy Breakfast I Eat Everyday

Posted on September 16, 2014 by phjiao

A common question people ask me often is what I eat everyday and if I follow a special diet. I don’t really follow a strict “diet” but I do try to follow a healthy diet. The way I eat is part of my lifestyle, it goes along with exercising, trying to be positive, happy, & fulfilled.

Growing up, my mom used to give us healthy food, lots of fruit, vegetables, wheat bread, some protein, every meal was cooked fresh. One of the fruits we’d eat was papaya. I also ate it for breakfast on weekends during high school and college (I lived with my parents). Papaya is not that easy to find in the U.S., except for Hawaii. After I moved away from my parents’ home, papaya became one of my favorite fruits to eat for breakfast when I would visit family in Mexico. My mom and grandmother knew I liked it, so they’d prepare a large bowl of papaya for me, yum! My mouth is watering just writing about it!

When I moved back to San Diego, I wouldn’t really buy it because it was hard to find at the “general market” grocery stores, plus I didn’t want to make the time to peel it and chop it up. I’d opt for other fruit. About two years ago, I discovered that Northgate Market sells it chopped up in convenient, individual serving containers. Plus, Northgate Market is only a few miles from the TV station where I work. I would go to Northgate at the beginning of the week to exclusively buy four containers of papaya, that is all I would buy. I would store the containers in my small refrigerator at work. I’d eat them for lunch or midmorning while working at my desk. I’d try to go back to Northgate on Fridays to buy three more containers of papaya. I’d take two home to eat on the weekend and leave one in the refrigerator at work for the following Monday. The papaya they sell at Northgate is sweet & delicious! I went so often that Brandy, the associate in the fruit department, knew me and was always friendly!

Every once in a while, I would buy an entire papaya and chop it up at home. Now, I am used to chopping up the papaya fresh at home. I’ve been trying to do this more often since my schedule has been busier, making it harder to get to Northgate Market. Every two weeks, I buy a few small papayas at Sprouts or Northgate Market, and store them in the refrigerator at home. The papaya sold at both stores is from Mexico.

I’ll chop up one papaya at a time and store it in individual servings in small plastic containers, then refrigerate it. This way, it is convenient since the papaya is chopped and there is no excuse to not eat a healthy breakfast. It also keeps me feeling pretty full throughout the morning since it has lots of fiber. The smaller papayas tend to be sweeter & I wait for them to be ripe, they just melt in my mouth! It is said that Christopher Columbus called papaya, “the fruit of the angels,” for its sweet taste and soft, butter-like consistency. Papaya has many vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and fiber. You can find more information on the benefits of eating papaya on The World’s Healthiest Foods.

The most delicious papaya I have eaten was in Hawaii, it tasted like a combination between mango and papaya, with more of a tropical taste! It reminded me of my childhood in San Diego when my mom would occasionally buy very small papayas, she would tell me those were Hawaiian papayas.

In our home, I pretty much buy papaya just for me, since my hubby doesn’t like it. I usually eat it plain, but sometimes add honey. If I want something with chili, I eat it with Tajin or chili powder and lime, also delicious!

Have you eaten papaya?

Hugs,

Paola

First I wash the papaya and set it on a cutting board.

I cut it in half.

Remove the seeds. This papaya had lots of seeds, some smaller papayas have very few seeds.

Next, I peel the papaya with a knife, it has a very thin peel.

I cut it into small pieces.

I place it in plastic storage containers, in individual servings. I cover the containers and place them in the refrigerator. Ideally, these should be eaten in the next few days, or a maximum of about five days.

Papaya is usually sweet, particularly the small, ripe one’s. You can also add honey to sweeten it even more.

For a chili and lime flavor, Tajin or chili powder with lime can be added.

I use the grocery bag to collect the seeds and peel, making for quick and easy clean-up.

A little tip: I make a knot on the bag, for easy disposal. Papaya peel and seeds can have a strong smell after a few days if you put them directly into the kitchen trash can. Placing them in an enclosed plastic bag helps mitigate the smell.

Looking Good While Exercising = Feeling Good

Posted on September 5, 2014 by phjiao

As you know, I try to exercise often, to maintain my weight, but it is also part of my lifestyle. I feel better when I exercise – and sleep better, it also helps me de-stress! I try to find ways to make exercise fun. Lola, my close friend and exercise buddy, is part of that fun! We exercise together at least once a week.

I try to have a variety of exercise outfits that I like, and most importantly that I feel comfortable in. It makes me feel good to look good (& comfortable), even when I am exercising. Lola is the same way. Every once in a while, she’ll show up with a new exercise polo, cute top, or complete outfit! I mostly wear exercise tank tops and black leggings. Last week, I was looking for some new sports bras and went to TJ Maxx because the store is close to the gym, plus my friend Edna had mentioned a necklace she bought there. I hadn’t been to that store in years. To my pleasant surprise, I found a few other nice items…and this cute RBX Active exercise top (only $14.99), all at great prices! I liked the exercise top so much, that I bought one to give to Lola as a gift!

Yesterday, when I walked into her home, she immediately complimented me on my new exercise top. I said thank you and then gave her a gift bag. Inside was the exercise top for her! She started to laugh and even her husband got a kick out of it. This is not the first time I do this, in the past, I have given her exercise tops & outfits that I also buy for myself, but this was the first time I was also wearing that same item.

I have a few favorite exercise tops and pants, and it seems I wash them every week. But, I promised myself I will start using the exercise clothes at the bottom of my drawers, to add variety to my exercise ensembles.

Do you have any favorite exercise outfits? Do you feel better when you exercise in cute outfits? I’d love to hear about them – and you can also share pictures along with your comment 🙂

Hugs,

Paola

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Have Fun With Dinner: Making Pizza At Home

Posted on August 27, 2014 by phjiao

Lately, I’ve been cooking more for my hubby and trying new recipes. We both like pizza, but of course, I rarely eat it because Continue reading →

Expanding Your Happiness: 21 Day Meditation Experience with Oprah & Deepak

Posted on August 19, 2014 by phjiao

Super Soul Sunday on OWN is one of my favorite shows. Every Sunday morning I look forward to watching it. The shows are inspirational, thought provoking, and positive. They often make me reflect on my own life. Oprah Winfrey hosts the hour long show, and interviews one person on each program, usually an author, athlete, business leader that has gone out of the box, poet, guru, musician, or actor. Each one of them has an inspirational story to share.

Recently, Oprah interviewed Deepak Chopra on the program. During a commercial break, I saw a promo regarding the Oprah & Deepak Expanding Your Happiness – 21 Day Meditation Experience. I went on my iPad and looked it up on the OWN website, made a note of the date and later registered on-line. Did I mention, this meditation experience (guided meditation) is FREE? It is FREE!! Oprah & Deepak have partnered in the past for free on-line meditation programs, but this is the first time I was aware of the dates and signed up to participate. I didn’t know what to expect, but being a fan of both of them, I knew it would be good!

The meditation started a few days ago. I’ve been doing it for a week now and love it! I find (make) the time at night, to meditate just before I go to sleep. I use my iPad to sign-in to the site, put on my earphones, an eye mask, turn off the bedroom light, and place the IPad next to me (I close the cover to avoid the bright light). It is very relaxing! I am able to meditate, to listen to the positive messages shared by Oprah & Deepak in the opening of each meditation session. Each session is only 20 minutes and there is a theme for each day. Below are samples of themes thus far. The meditations include relaxing nature music which soothes my mind after a busy day! I feel like I am at a spa….but I am at home, meditating!

You can still sign up – for FREE! Each meditation theme stays posted in the site for five days. So you may miss only a few of the starting days, but no worries, you can start on the first day available on the site. You can sign-in to do the daily meditations at a time in your day that is convenient for you. I promise you, it is wonderful!

Hope you sign up and enjoy it as much as I am enjoying it! You deserve to dedicate 20 minutes in your day to your well-being! This meditation practice brings me peace every night and is the best way to end my day in relaxation!

Do you meditate? Have you heard of this Meditation Experience with Oprah & Deepak? If you are already signed-up for it, what do you think? Are you enjoying it?

Namaste friends (& hugs too),

Paola

Healthy & Low-Cal Ice-Cream – It Exists!!

Posted on August 13, 2014 by phjiao

Who doesn’t like ice-cream? I sure like it! But, I rarely buy it for our home because it is one of those desserts which Continue reading →

Learning to Meditate: Clearing My Mind Before Going to Sleep

Posted on August 5, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Learning new things and about other cultures is fascinating to me. I believe in personal growth and continuous improvement. Over the past years, I have learned from my experiences, and have become a more positive, balanced, and reflective person. Guess it comes with age – and experiences (good and bad experiences). To a certain degree, I have also become a calmer person, a more understanding and accepting person. I work everyday on trying to be appreciative and demonstrate gratitude for the many blessings I have, to let go of the things I cannot control or change. In the past few years, I have adopted the motto, “As long as someone is not hurting me or affecting me (or a loved one/others) in a negative way, then I just let it be and focus on the positive things in my life.” I can only control my words and actions, not those of others. Life is short, I try to enjoy it and am trying to live in the moment, which can be hard to do with my type A personality.

In the past, I have practiced yoga and found it to be relaxing. Lately, I have had so much on my mind and find it challenging to turn off my thoughts even during yoga. My thoughts just enter my mind a thousand miles a minute, making it difficult to get into my “yoga relaxation zone.” Sometimes, it is exhausting to have so much on my mind. Exercise and yoga have always helped me de-stress, and I am hoping to get back to that place soon – where I can clear my mind and make the best decisions.

I had read about meditation before and have been reading more about it in the past few weeks. I have become very interested in the subject and am trying to learn how to meditate. The first meditation technique I learned during a class was from Brooke Bunge, yoga instructor, at Calistoga Ranch. Brooke told me to relax in a comfortable position, focus on my breathing, and either to repeat a word of choice or to count my breaths. By word of choice, she meant a word that applied to the moment, if I wanted to relax to repeat that word, if I wanted change to repeat that word, if I wanted clarity, to repeat it, you get the drift.

Since we returned from Calistoga, I have tried to meditate every night before I go to sleep. I start by laying on my back (in bed) in a comfortable position, then repeat the word “peace.” Or, if I have had a very hectic day, I repeat “relax”over and over. I place my hands on stomach so I can feel the breathing and be aware of it. I start with deep breathes and then gradually more relaxing breathes. Many thoughts drift through my mind (mostly my “to do” list, or things that happened during the day, or thoughts of things that are months away), I just try to keep repeating the word and visualizing what “relax” represents for me. At some point, when I am ready to go to sleep, I turn on my side because I can’t sleep on my back. Then, before I know it, I feel relaxed and fall asleep without the hundreds of thought continuing in my mind.

I have also tried meditating at the gym as part of my cool down after exercising. I’ll share more about what seemed like loooong 10 minutes of meditation in one of my next posts. I have also found some interesting materials to read and a meditation that will be done globally. Oprah will also be hosting a free 21-day Meditation Experience, along with Deepok Chopra. I signed up for both. I’ll write about these soon!

Have you meditated? What do you think of meditation?

Hugs,

Paola

Birthday Vacation: The Auberge Spa at Calistoga Ranch

Posted on August 1, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you are all doing well! Sorry, I’ve been absent for a few days. I’ve been dealing with some things. For now, writing and sharing with you is a nice experience for me and brings me peace, so I will continue to share. I appreciate your support and hope you like these posts – at least as much as I like sharing them with you!

I am continuing with the pending posts from my birthday celebration – here are the pictures from The Auberge Spa at Calistoga Ranch. It was quite a treat! The spa is on the property, nestled in the wooded canyon of Napa. The Spa’s website describes it as a “rejuvenating natural Napa spa sanctuary,” and it is just that, a sanctuary! The spa is unique, it is completely open and feels like you are in a tree top in the middle of the canyon. There are multiple relaxation areas, soaking pools that overlook the creek, outdoor garden showers, and an area with lounge chairs where you can enjoy some natural rays from the sun.

Before our trip, my hubby and I had booked appointments to go to the spa together, but then he found out his favorite soccer team was playing in the finals of the World Cup, so we called to change his appointment to an earlier time so he could enjoy the game (BTW, the team he was rooting for won). My hubby got a sports massage, I got a Classic Ranch Massage (swedish massage) & customized facial. The massage was quite good, they have a signature oil, among other massage oil options. There was one unique method during the massage which I had not experienced in the past – while I was laying on my back with a massage roll under my knees, the massage therapist held my legs up and rocked them from side to side, then folded them to each side for a few seconds. It was similar to a stretch done in yoga, but she was holding the weight of my legs. She said it as a good stretch for the lower back. For the facial, I lucked out with the lead esthetician – she gave me a skin analysis and a facial which included peptides and multiple natural antioxidants. She also gave me their signature sculpting facial massage, which is used in Japan, and is supposed to tone and firm the skin. This sculpting facial massage was a first for me.

The spa feels very private and because I booked my treatments for the middle of the day, I was the only one there. I had the entire spa to myself! It was very relaxing! During my facial, I asked if the spa is open to the public. I was told the spa is reserved for the exclusive use of guests staying at the resort, which explained why felt so private and quiet. It kind of makes sense since there is only one entrance to the Resort and once you check in, you are transported everywhere on golf carts. She did tell me that previous resort and spa guests can visit the spa by calling the spa directly and mentioning they had a treatment there in the past. So, they may make the exception for previous guests.

I bought a moisturizer for my face and a peptide cream. I started using the moisturizer recently, let’s see if I notice a difference.

Here are some pics from my visit to the spa – hope you like them!

When was the last time you went to a spa, or got a massage or facial? Do you have any spa recommendations?

Hugs,

Paola

PS- I’ll share pics from our last day in Napa and our visit to the Coppola Winery in one of my next posts.

Arriving at the spa – the signage says Bathhouse.

The key for my locker – cute, a Calistoga Ranch wine cork is used as a key chain (the resort has its own wine).

The women’s dressing room area, there are only fourteen lockers, it is quite a private resort.

They have all the regular “freshen up” amenities available at a spa. I took a quick pic in the robe 🙂

Outside of the women’s dressing room area, there is a private sitting area and two outdoor showers. The other lounge areas, outdoor showers, and soaking pools at the spa are co-ed.

One of the sitting areas.

The refreshment area.

The weather was warm – I stayed refreshed with this fruit infused water.

The main lounge “relaxation” area.

There was also a variety of hot teas available.

The lounge chairs overlooking the creek.

This jacuzzi is kept hot, due to the war weather, I opted for the soaking pool (pictured below).

I saw this beautiful dragonfly on my way to the soaking pool.

I enjoyed some time in this soaking pool. It was nice that it was covered, so I got shade (& protection) from the sun.

Behind those glass doors there is a sauna. The towels in the bowl are kept on ice. I freshened up at this outdoor shower before I went in for my massage and facial.

Overall, the spa is amazing! Just like the spas we see in magazines!

Hope you liked these pics! I’ll share pics from our last day in Napa and our visit to the Coppola Winery in one of my next posts.

Catching Up On Sleep

Posted on June 16, 2014 by phjiao

I have been working on a big project at work, which has lead to longer hours at the office. It has also lead to less hours of free time in the evenings, resulting in less exercise and less sleep. This is common when a big project comes up, so I am working on a process to launch this initiative, then try to get back to a normal work schedule.

Luckily, I haven’t had too many work related events on weekends, so I am able to sleep in on weekends! When I work long hours, I am fine on Monday and Tuesday nights, but come the middle or end of the week and I am looking forward to Saturday morning, so I can sleep in! On weekends, I catch up on sleep or as it is commonly called my “z’s.” It seems to help me.

I was curious about the subject and did some research. Well, apparently you actually can’t catch up on sleep that easily. For example, if you lost 8 hours of sleep during the week, you can’t just make them up by sleeping 8 additional hours on the weekend. Plus, if you do this you’ll throw off your bodies normal sleep cycle. According to a sleep related article in Scientific American, if you have deprived yourself of sleep, for example for 4 nights, resulting in 8 less hours of sleep debt, you should either add an extra hour to your sleep for eight nights, take 20 minutes naps when you can in the coming days, or go back to your regular sleep cycle until your body eventually recuperates, which may take a while.

I found another article in Psychology Today that says you can bank sleep hours ahead of time, but not make them up afterwards. For example, if you know you have a long week coming up and you won’t be able to get 8 hours of sleep each night, try to sleep additional hours on the weekend leading to it, not afterwards. One of the articles I read, in Web Md said that sleep is as important to our overall health as diet and exercise, and it also listed the negative effects on our health if we don’t get enough sleep. Yikes, interesting information on sleep and how important it is to our health! Overall, the best advise is to sleep 8 hours per night.

Well, since I can’t always manage to get 8 hours of sleep every night, after a long week I look forward to sleeping in on weekends. I feel it helps my body recuperate from a long week! On Mondays, I feel like I start my week fresh and re-energized! This week, I am going to try to get my eights hours of sleep each night!

On the weekends that I do want to sleep in, even if I don’t set the alarm, my body wakes up at the regular time it does on weekdays. In order to try to go back to sleep, I sometimes use an eyemask which helps block out the natural light in our bedroom and helps me get a few more hours of sleep. This particular eyemask is made of very soft cotton and comfortable to wear. I try to sleep until my body wakes up naturally, which is usually an hour or two later. My hubby also helps, by trying to slip out of the bedroom quietly, even though I usually always notice when he wakes up. He rarely sleeps in.

The drawing I used for this post is one we purchased in a gallery in San Francisco about three years ago. It was drawn by an artist that specializes in making pictorials of famous sayings. One of my favorite things to do when we visit San Francisco is go to galleries and art exhibits, to walk around and enjoy the pieces. We bought this one for our bedroom and hung it by our bed. Can you see the famous saying in the pictorial? Catching Z’s! We thought it was nice for our bedroom since this is where we sleep 🙂

Do you catch up on sleep on weekends? Do you take naps? Do you use an eye mask when you sleep? Do you get enough sleep every night? I’d love to hear from you!

Hugs,

Paola

What a Difference Make-Up….& a Positive Attitude Make

Posted on May 28, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you had a nice Memorial Day weekend! Mine was different than other holidays because I spent it dealing with a toothache, a bad one! It started with a small toothache on Friday, it only hurt when I touched the tooth and I thought perhaps I had been grinding my teeth at night, particularly since it didn’t hurt with warm or hot beverages. By Saturday afternoon, it has escalated to a full on toothache, and was causing me pain and discomfort even when I didn’t touch it. I took some ibuprofen before I went to sleep. By Sunday morning, the pain woke me up and I could feel the pain in my jaw, neck, and up the side of my face. If you have ever had a bad toothache, you know the type of jabbing pain I am referring to.

I called my dentist on his emergency line and by the symptoms, he said I probably needed a root canal. He said he would try to see me Monday afternoon or Tuesday. I told him based on my level of pain, I doubted I could wait until Tuesday. I’ve had root canals before and know that it takes multiple appointments, and is an uncomfortable and painful procedure. It can also be expensive. I tried to stay positive, by thinking, well this isn’t a big problem, it can be fixed, thankfully I have insurance and a good dentist….positive things I tell myself so I think of it as a temporary situation that needs to be fixed and not a dreadful problem. I don’t think anyone likes going to the dentist or having dental surgery, but I try to stay positive about it, particularly because it usually cannot be avoided and is necessary.

I was a bit saddened because I know a root canal is the end of the natural pulp (nerve) of a tooth…and eventually I may need a crown over that tooth. Then I remembered the saying my grandmother uses, “todo por servir se acaba.” Which means, “everything wears out – eventually – after being used.” I take pretty good care of my teeth, and that tooth already had a filling, so this was just something that happened over time, a cavity got worse fast and it damaged the tooth. So I figured, oh well, let’s just deal with it and get it fixed. My husband looked for other options for dentists that took “urgent” appointments on weekends and found a few, but I wanted to go to my dentist. He knows me well and has been treating me for close to ten years now. I trust my dentist.

At that point the pain was unbearable and I could feel myself getting dizzy and feeling lots of discomfort. We had dinner plans with my sister and brother in-law, and I was close to canceling, but decided to go. I took some acetaminophen to help with the pain and penicillin as my dentist had prescribed (luckily I had some penicillin at home) . I took a shower, put on some make-up and fixed my hair, and that in itself made me feel better. Amazing how make-up can make us look a lot better than we feel sometimes! I felt lousy, but as soon as I saw my sister I felt better. I think getting out of the house was also helpful because I got distracted and wasn’t focused on the pain (plus the acetaminophen really helped).

That night, I took more acetaminophen and tried to sleep in a slightly seated position, as recommended for the blood circulation tohelp decrease the pain. I woke up multiple times throughout the night. My poor hubby also woke up every time I did. It was a horrible, sleepless night.

Monday, the pain was back because the acetaminophen had worn off. My jaw felt locked and I felt sharp pain, more intense than on Sunday. I was exhausted from the pain and the sleepless night. My husband had plans to go practice his hobby with a friend. I told him I would be ok and would try to sleep a bit. He brought me some chopped fruit to bed before he left. I ate a little, mostly because I needed some food in my stomach in order to take the medication. I tried to fall asleep and was waking up constantly. Around noon, I received a text message from my dentist asking how I was doing and saying he could see me if necessary. I replied and afterwards we spoke and made arrangements for me to go in for the root canal. I contacted my hubby and he immediately came home to take me to the dentist. For the first time ever, I was looking forward to getting the anesthesia shot into my gums, just so it would numb the pain! A few hours later, with the first stage of the root canal completed, I was feeling better. I have to go back in a week for the next appointment. I filled my prescriptions and took ampicillin that night, in place of the penicillin. I also took some acetaminophen. A root canal is endodontics and dental surgery, so it’s pretty serious and can get infected if not cared for properly.

Today, I woke up with pain in my jaw and some bad discomfort from the dental surgery. I tried to get up at the normal time, but was in such pain that I just could not do it. I have only called in sick to work once in the seven years I have worked at the station and that was the time I had strep throat. I did not want to miss work because we had a very important meeting for a project I am working on. So, I wrote a few emails and made the necessary arrangements in order to go in late to work, but not miss the meeting. I took some pain medication and tried to sleep again. An hour later, I got up, had some coffee, ate a yogurt and took the ampicillin. I took a shower and started to get ready for work, applied some make up and fixed my hair. I automatically felt better….and I looked better. I had a fever that night, so I woke up looking all sweaty and pretty bad! Amazing what a little make-up and fixing our hair can do!

Luckily, last week we had prepared everything for today’s meeting and I just needed to make a few copies before the presentation. I knew the subject matter and was prepared, as were my colleagues. Our team was very understanding of my situation – and I appreciated it! I could have cancelled the meeting, but knew it would take another month to re-schedule due to the participants. The meeting went very well and everyone was pleased! We moved another step forward on the project, a huge step. I stayed and worked for the rest of the afternoon.

As I was leaving work this evening, I looked in the mirror and said to myself, “I don’t look that bad, even though I don’t feel good.” Ha! So, I took this selfie in the car before I left work. Amazing what a smile, a little bit of make-up, and a positive attitude can do! Overall, it was a very productive day, even though my jaw still feels pretty bad. This too will pass and tomorrow will be better, I never lose hope of that!

Have you had a bad toothache? Have you had dental surgery or a root canal? Have you made yourself feel better on a day you were feeling ill by wearing make-up?

Hugs,

Paola

Here’s my selfie, I still didn’t feel well, but at least I didn’t look like I felt 🙂

These are the new additions to my night stand – at least for the next week. Thankfully, we live in a country where we can have access to these medications and dental care. I try to look at the positive side of things, even when I have a toothache!

Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise: #7

Posted on April 17, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Finding the motivation to exercise, will help us get active and hopefully keep us healthy – and help us maintain our weight. The main reason I exercise if for well-being (for health, happiness, & to de-stress) and the second to maintain my weight. It is not always easy to motivate myself to exercise, so I’ve been sharing the tricks I use. Here’s trick #7 – Exercise on weekends. Hope you find it motivating!

Do you exercise on weekends? When do you prefer to exercise? Do you have any tricks you’d like to share? I’d love to hear from you.

Hugs,

Paola

Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise #7: Exercise on Weekends

Generally, on weekends we have more free time, that is if you work a Monday through Friday schedule, like I do. So, weekends are a good time to get in some exercise! If you like sports, you can play tennis, basketball, go surfing, swimming, or any sport that gets you out there being active and breaking a sweat. My hubby and I were playing racquetball for a few months and it is a great workout, plus it’s fun! You can also go for a bike ride or get out there to throw a ball with your children or friends. If you jog, on the weekends you can jog as far as you want! I prefer to walk and on weekends, I can take more scenic walks and not be as concerned about how long the walk will take. Or, you could also go for a walk on a beach or a hiking trail. Or, if you have a membership to a gym, you can take a class. I like to go to Zumba classes on weekends, usually in the mid-mornings. Many people like to take a yoga class on weekends, to help them stretch and de-stress from the workweek.

If your children play a sport on the weekend, you could try to go for a walk around the field before or after the game. I used to do that when my hubby was helping coach my nieces’s soccer team. I’d out on my Ipod and walk around the field a few times, then watch her play. If you have little one’s, you could go for a walk and push them on a stroller. I’ve done that with my nephews and they enjoy getting out of the house and seeing the scenery, plus we all get some fresh air. If the weather is too warm or cold, you can exercise to a DVD. I’ve done that with my sister and we have fun dancing to a Zumba DVD!

I know, on weekends we want to disconnect and relax, but if you exercise, even just a little bit, you will feel better and sleep better! Remember, if you can, try to carve out a little time for yourself to stay active and healthy!

Hugs,

Paola

Lola and I recently went for walk at Balboa Park on a weekend, we chatted, enjoyed the beautiful Park, and had fun while exercising!

I’ll exercise at the gym on weekends, even a few minutes on a bike can get my heart pumping!

You could go for a jog.

Take a walk.

Go swimming.

Here is another picture of Lola and me on one of our walks, this one was by the bay in downtown San Diego.

A Beautiful Stroll at Balboa Park

Posted on April 14, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

There are many ways to stay active! One of my favorite ways is to walk. I prefer walks outside. I find them relaxing and a great way to clear my mind, to get some fresh air and de-stress. The walks I enjoy the most are with friends! Lola is my exercise buddy and we try to go for speed walks at least one to three times per week. I have written about these walks before. We have fun every time, we catch up on our lives, chat about a million topics, we call it our “therapy time,” and for me it has become “me” time. Most of the time we walk by the bay downtown and Little Italy, where Lola lives. Downtown is close to my office and easy to drive to after work, then I head home afterwards.

We like to periodically mix it up and walk at other locations. Balboa Park is one of our favorite places to walk at. It also happens to be close to downtown and there is ample free parking, which is a plus. Balboa Park is a beautiful public park with many museums, art studios, restaurants, event venues, fountains, and attractions. It is very green with lots of plants! It makes for a scenic walk and there is always interesting people walking. It is a tourist attraction, but also a popular for locals. There are beautiful venues and buildings where brides and quinceañeras take pictures.

Last Friday, Lola and I decided to go for a walk at Balboa Park. The weather was nice and warm, it was the perfect way to unwind from a long week at work, and also get some fresh air while we got in some exercise! We walked for a little more than one hour. In case you are wondering, here’s our route: we parked in the Federal Lot located at Park Boulevard and Presidents Way (behind the San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum), walked northeast on the sidewalk along the Organ Pavilion parking lot, walked into the Spreckels Organ Pavilion, continued north towards the San Diego Museum of Art, walked past the fountain heading east towards the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, walked around the fountain heading north past the San Diego National History Museum, turned west towards the San Diego Zoo, turned south and walked through the Spanish Village Art Studio, headed south past the San Diego National History Museum, walked into the Zoro Garden, headed west back towards the San Diego Museum of Art, then south towards the San Diego Aerospace Museum, walked all the way to the Museum, turned around and walked north past the Starlight Bowl, turned right at the Hall of Champions towards the Federal parking lot. We ended the walk with a cool down walk around the parking lot & some stretches….we kept chatting the entire time, ha!

So, next time you have an opportunity, visit Balboa Park or a park near you – enjoy the scenery and get active! Stretch your legs and get some fresh air!

Here are some pictures from our walk, hope you like them!

Do you visit parks in your area? Which park is your favorite? Do you go for walks, if yes, where? Have you been to Balboa Park?

Hugs,

Paola

We started our walk close to the San Diego Hall of Champions and headed north.

There were a few groups of people taking pictures at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion.

We said hi to photographer Aron Martinez. I have worked with him on the Quinceañera Expo.

He was photographing a bride and her bridesmaids.

We also saw a Quinceañera getting her photos taken.

I stopped to use the restroom and when I came out, Lola was taking this picture. Can you see what she was photographing? Look close in the sky.

It is the moon….do you see it?

Lola stopped to take a picture. There are palm trees throughout the Park.

The Park is so green, beautiful!

It has amazing hallways and walkways!

The San Diego Museum of Art was set-up for the Art Live charity event.

We walked past the fountain.

The architecture is amazing!

There were lots of families enjoying the Park.

This is the fountain in front of the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, one of my favorite spots at the Park!

No, we didn’t go inside the Zoo, these are giraffe sculptures located at the Miniature Railroad.

One of the entrances to the Spanish Village Art Studios.

Sculptures of flamenco dancers in the Spanish Village Art Studios area.

We walked into the Zoro Garden (also a butterfly garden).

There are lots of flowers around the Park.

We stopped for a picture in front of the Lily Pond.

This couple saw us getting our picture taken and asked us to take their picture. They were tourists and had just gotten engaged! The fiancé (groom) had planned it, so he would propose to her at Balboa Park, so romantic! Lola took multiple pictures for them.

There are a few statues around the Park.

And art sculptures.

A little boy was playing on this art sculpture.

We walked past the Japanese Friendship Garden.

This is the cafe located at the entrance of the Japanese Friendship Garden.

We saw this antique classic car waiting for a wedding couple that was getting their picture taken.

We walked past the Spreckles Organ Pavilion again, on our way towards the southwest side of the Park.

We walked into the area where the House of Pacific Relations Cottages are located. They are open and have free cultural events or performances almost every Sunday.

We saw lots of beautiful flowers during our Walk at Balboa Park!

Making Healthy Options: Take-Out Chinese Food

Posted on April 13, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Food – it has been around since the beginning of man! We love it and enjoy it, but we don’t always enjoy gaining weight from it! At least, I don’t. Who agrees? Well, since I have been married maintaining my weight has been even more challenging. My husband likes to eat out often and he doesn’t like to eat the same thing two days in a row or eating left overs. I can eat the same thing everyday and be ok with it. I am a pretty simple eater and as long as I have healthy options around, that is what I will eat. Even with snacks, if I am craving something sweet and have some frozen mango in the freezer, I’ll eat that and bam, my craving is gone nan junk food, ha!

It is challenging for me to make healthy choices when we eat out! It takes will power! When I am sitting there, looking through the menu, going straight to the salads, then my eyes wander to the fries or onion rings! Yikes!

We order take out Chinese food about two times a month. It is hard to not go for the sweet and sour chicken, or the fried rice! And, who doesn’t love fried egg rolls? I love these! Yum! But, I am really trying to keep it healthy and low on calories, so lately I’ve been opting for steamed vegetables and brown rice. It is a healthier option. Just be cautious of heavy sauces that may be added to the vegetables. This way, when my husband is enjoying his mongolian beef, fried rice, and other heavier options from the menu….I am still enjoying the Chinese food experience, just the low calorie and less fat, and low sodium version. I still can’t resist the egg rolls and usually have one! But, eating one is better than eating three egg rolls, and this way I don’t feel deprived.

Instead of a soft drink or sweetened iced tea, I’ll drink water or a sparkling water, or green tea. For utensils, I’ll use chop sticks, we have some plastic one’s at home and it really adds to the experience of eating Chinese food (at least for me). It takes me longer to eat with chop sticks, so my brain gets the signal that my stomach is full before I end up overeating. Another trick I use, is that I serve myself on a medium size plate, not the large dinner plate, hence eating a smaller portion overall. After I serve the portion I plan to eat, I put away the leftovers right away….saving them for lunch the next day. If I leave the containers out, it is just too easy to go back to the kitchen counter and serve myself some more!

Ah, I know, the tricks we use to maintain our weight. I never deprive myself of any type of food…especially not chocolate or foods I love, ha! I just try to eat in moderation and keep it healthy as often as possible. I figure, it all balances out.

Remember, the most important thing is that you are happy with your life and yourself, at any size we may be….to enjoy life and that includes the joy of food!

Do you have any suggestions of healthy take-out dinners you buy? Do you use any techniques or tricks to eat smaller portions or healthier meals? I’d love to hear them!

Hugs,

Paola

PS – Healthy breakfast I eat everyday, how I stopped eating chips, and easy way to remember to take your vitamins.

I order steamed vegetables and brown rice. Instead of a heavier main entree and fried rice.

I serve myself on a medium size plate, not a large dinner plate, and use chopsticks.

I enjoy the Chinese food experience….just a lower calorie, less fat, and low sodium option.

Getting Back to My Old Habits

Posted on April 1, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope your week is getting off to a good start! As I have shared before, I have to work at staying at a healthy weight, always have and probably always will. If I don’t exercise regularly, I can easily gain weight. In addition to exercise, I try to eat healthy foods and drink lots of water. I don’t deprive myself of anything, I eat in moderation, but do try to watch what I eat. Chocolate is one of my favorite treats and I don’t think I will ever give it up. A life without chocolate would just be less delicious, haha!

I have been married for a little more than three years and cook more often than I ever did when I was single. Actually, I rarely cooked when I was single and my fridge had limited items, most of which were healthy. I was and still am more of a snacker. I tend to eat small meals throughout the day. It is my system and it works for me. I rarely ate a full meal for dinner when I was single, I would have some crackers or a slice of bread with greek cheese, or maybe a few pieces of chocolate covered almonds, or a piece of fruit or some veggies, accompanied by a sparkling water. I know, sounds odd, but it was simple, tasty, healthy, and satisfied me. I rarely used the stove, let alone the oven – I would eat mostly fresh food and raw fruits or veggies. Now that I am married, I have way more temptations in the fridge and pantry! Way more! I buy the groceries for our household and try to keep it healthy….but sometimes, my hubby will stop at a convenience store and buy chips or at a bakery and buy donuts or pastries. In addition to that, I cook dinner for hubby a few times per week and sometimes I eat some of it. How can you not eat pasta or mashed potatoes? They are so delicious and the temptation is just too much when you are the one doing the cooking!

So, on a recent visit to Trader Joe’s ( I shop there every week), I bought edamame. I used to snack on them or have them as an entree for dinner. They are healthy, contain protein and lots of vitamins (plus at about $2 per bag, it is an inexpensive snack). This past weekend, when I got the urge to grab for a snack, I heated a bowl of edamame, sprinkled a little sea salt on them & voila’, a delicious snack! They are also tasty with a sprinkle of lime or lemon juice! I also find that because they have fiber, they make me feel satisfied for a longer period of time. In addition, I eat them from the pod, with my hands, so it takes me longer to eat them, hence my brain has time to register that I am eating and send a signal to my body that I am satisfied (full).

I am trying to get back to my old habit of not eating a full meal for dinner and instead snacking on healthy treats likes veggies & fruits!

Do you like endamame? How have your eating habits changed over the years? If you are single, do you eat a full meal at dinner time? If you are married, do you eat a full meal for dinner – or did you eat a full meal at dinner time when you were single?

Hugs,

Paola

The bag is not very large, enough for three to four servings and is sold frozen. I purchase the unsalted, soybean in a pod bag.

Edamame have vitamins, protein, & fiber.

I simply rinse the edamame and heat them in water. They are ready in just a few minutes!

I strain them.

Place them in a bowl, add a little bit of sea salt & voila’ – a delicious & healthy snack!

Easy Tip to Sleep Better / Consejo Facil Para Dormir Mejor

Posted on March 18, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Do you ever find that your mind starts to wander about all the things you have to do? This seems to happen when we are finally laying down, after a long day, to try to go to sleep. Our mind starts to write this list of endless things we need to do, not just tomorrow, but this week, this month, for the birthday party coming up….for work, and on and on.

When you write things down, it helps you get them off your mind. I keep a note pad, sticky notes and pens in my night stand. This way, if I have something I need to do, I write it down. If I need to make sure not to forget a particular item in the morning as I am rushing to leave for work, like a scarf or a heavier jacket, I write it down. I stick the little note on my nightstand next to my alarm clock. This way, I see it when I wake up and it is also next to where I place my purse, so I am sure to see it before I leave the next day. Sometimes, I will even bring the sticky note with me downstairs, because by the time I leave the room & get to the door, many other thoughts have already gone through my mind and I may forget the item. Trust me, it has happened before. Having the note in my hand serves as a reminder, yet one more time 🙂 It works like a charm for me.

You may want to try it. Let me know if it works for you. Next time you are trying to get to sleep and can’t seem to clear your mind, write your “to do” list or the thing that is worrying you. It should help you get it off your mind….and clear your mind so you can get some z’s.

Do you keep a note pad or sticky notes and a pen in your nightstand? Do you use another method to clear your mind before you go to sleep? Do you use another method to remember an item you need to take with you the next day?

Hugs,

Paola

Tricks To Motivate Myself To Exercise: #6

Posted on March 6, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends – Happy Wednesday! I am continuing the Exercise Motivation Tricks Series. This is trick #6 that I use to motivate myself to exercise! I was out of town last week and that threw me off my exercise routine, so I haven’t been getting many workouts lately. I may use this trick this week to jump start my metabolism this week!

What exercise tricks do you use?

Hugs,

Paola

Tricks to Motivate Myself To Exercise: #6 Use Exercise Videos

I have a few exercise DVD videos that I use to exercise at home. I also use them when I travel and I know it may not be possible to exercise outside or at the hotel gym. When the weather isn’t nice outside, I have used these videos to exercise at my sister and my friend Lola’s house.

Currently, my favorite exercise videos are the Zumba DVDs. They are fun & the music just gets you dancing. How can you listen to salsa and bachata, and not start moving your hips and shoulders? It is like a natural reflex for me. Maybe because I am Hispanic, haha. I also like exercise videos because I can do them at any time of the day and on any day of the week. Also, if I only have fifteen minutes to exercise, then I just do fifteen minutes of the video and simply press stop. Fifteen minutes of exercise is better than not doing any exercise at all. It is good to get our bodies moving! It also helps our mood (gets us in a better mood), and gets the endorphins and metabolism going! When I use DVDs to exercise in the mornings, I simply get up, put the Zumba DVD in and the music starts playing while I change into exercise clothes. I put the volume high, once I hear the music I am ready to Zumba! Even on mornings when I am feeling sluggish, I may not do the exercises 100% correctly or at full cardio level, but at least I am moving and that alone gets me feeling more energetic, before I know it, I am smiling!

DVDs are a convenient way to exercise, it’s like taking a class at a gym, but in the comfort of your home. In my opinion, they should also be fun. I have few more intense exercise videos, like toning DVDs, and some hard core abs and boot camp videos. I have used those DVDs a few times, but honestly, they aren’t much fun for me. Zumba is fun for me because I like to dance and it includes lots of dancing. I also like using my yoga DVDs when I feel a need to relax , stretch, and reflect. Everyone is different though, one of my friends really likes her butt toning videos and she is disciplined about doing them a few times each week, those are quite hard core for me! What matters is that you like the video and the exercises, and that you get the workout.

So, if you don’t have exercise DVDs and you think this is may be a type of exercise you may enjoy, then get some! The videos aren’t expensive, most cost between $10 – $25. You can find them at Target, Wal-Mart, Best Buy, sporting stores, and you can also buy them on-line. If you aren’t certain which video you may like, you can do a little research on-line and preview some videos beforehand. You can also preview exercise videos on YouTube.

Hope this exercise trick will help motivate you to exercise!

This is a picture from a charity walk I participated in (I am the person to the farthest right, in the second row). Our team was on stage to kick-off the walk with a warm up and it was Zumba! It was a fun way to get the walk started!

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Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise: #5

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Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise: #4

Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise: Trick #4

Posted on January 19, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends, hope your weekend is going well! Do you have special plans for your long weekend?

Here’s Trick #4 from the series Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise. Hope you like it.

Hugs,

Paola

Trick #4: Exercise at Gym Close to Work or Home

Going to a gym that is located close to work or home really works for me! It is convenient and practical. I am a member of 24Hour Fitness, I have been for about 10 years! The membership I have is for multiple locations, pretty much all their gyms in various cities. I usually go to the gym after work and take the classes. I know the schedules for the fitness classes at the gyms close to work and don’t always make it for the entire hour, but know that it is better to exercise for forty-five or thirty minutes, than to not exercise at all. Another option is to use the equipment to exercise, such as a treadmill, elliptical, or bicycle. An item that helps me pass the time when I exercise on equipment is a magazine, book, or my IPod. I always have a magazine in my car and my IPod in my purse. Before I know it, I’ve gotten at least 30 minutes of cardio and walked two miles!

Every once in a while I’ll go to the gym located about two miles from the station at lunch time and walk on a treadmill for thirty minutes and stretch for five minutes, freshen up & change, then rush back to work. I get a pretty light work out because I don’t really want to get to sweaty since I go back to work afterwards. I try to go to the gym at lunch time at least one or two times per week, particularly if I know I will not be able to exercise that evening. Exercising regularly at lunch time can be challenging for me because sometimes I have shoots or meetings at lunch time, but mostly because I often work through lunch time (which is not good, but such is life).

On weekends, I’ll try to go to gyms close to home. I’ll take a class or use the equipment. My husband also has a membership to 24Hour Fitness and it helps (me) when I can motivate him to go to the gym with me, somehow it also motivates me to know he is going with me. Every once in a while, I’ll go to the gym close to home on weekday mornings, but the classes offered are at 5:00 am, which is usually about an hour too early for me. Sometimes, I’ll go to the gym in the mornings and just get on the treadmill or elliptical for a quick workout. When I do make it to the gym in the mornings, I feel great the rest of the day, full of energy! Exercising in the mornings is also good for your metabolism, more on that in another post.

Do you have a gym membership? Which gym do you go to? Do you have a favorite class you take or do you use the equipment? Do you go to the gym in the mornings, lunch time, or evenings?

In the picture above, I was stretching after exercising on the treadmill at the gym.

When I want to get in some light exercise, I use the bicycles. It is simple and I can read while I get a workout (or catch up with friend on the phone), which helps the time go by faster. Before I know it, I will have gone a few miles on the bicycle and gotten thirty minutes of exercise.

I keep print outs of the exercise class schedules from the gyms located close to work and home handy, so I can quickly see which class I can attend on a certain day. I keep them in a cabinet at work, in the glove compartment of my car, and the nightstand in my bedroom at home.

Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise: Tip #3

Posted on January 12, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends , Happy Saturday – hope you are enjoying your day! This is the third tip from the series Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise. Hopefully you are liking the series. If you have tips that work for you , share them below!

Hugs,

Paola

Trick #3: Find a Workout Class You Like

Exercise classes are a wonderful and fun way to exercise! I go to a few 24 Hour Fitness gyms, either close to work or home. I periodically print out the class schedules and highlight my favorite classes: Zumba & Yoga. I keep them in a special red folder in a file cabinet at my desk at work and in the glove compartment of my car. This may seem a bit much, but hey, it works for me. I have so much on my mind, it helps to have the schedules handy when I want to look up a class to attend. I also add the classes that I am most likely to attend on my Outlook electronic schedule (I easily have access to the schedule from my cel phone). I add classes that are held on weekday evenings for the gyms close to work. I add a few options because I don’t always leave work at the same time, if I miss the first evening class, I know an hour later there is another class available. I add classes held on weekend for the gyms which are close to home. It helps me remember the times and locations the classes are held at.

Attending classes I like makes it fun to exercise. I know with Zumba, I will dance and enjoy the music! I’ll break a sweat, get lots of cardio, and always leave with a smile and feeling great! With yoga, I know I will stretch and balance, and always leave feeling relaxed. I’ve also become familiar with some of the instructors and have my favorite classes.

Do you have any favorite classes you attend?

Hugs,

Paola

This picture was taken as I was leaving the gym after a Zumba class! After a long day at work, a Zumba class makes me feel good & even re-energized! I get my endorphins going & feel great!

ESPAÑOL:

Estrategias para Motivarte a Hacer Ejercicio: #3 Clases de Ejercicio Que Te Gusten

¡Las clases de ejercicio son una manera divertida y buena de hacer ejercicio! Yo voy a los gimnasios 24 Hour Fitness que están cerca de mi casa y del trabajo. Periódicamente imprimo los horarios de las clases de ejercicio y marco mis favoritas: Zumba y Yoga. Mantengo los horarios en un folder en mi oficina y en la gauntera de mi carro. Quizás parezca demasiado tenerlos en dos lugares, pero a mi me funciona. Tengo una agenda ocupada y muchas cosas en la mente, así que me ayuda tener los horarios de las clases a la mano cuando quiero ver las opciones disponibles.

También agrego las clases a las cuales es mas probable que vaya en mi calendario electrónico. De esta manera tengo acceso al horario por medio de mi celular. Agrego clases que se llevan a cabo en las tardes en los gimnasios que quedan cerca del trabajo. Agrego clases que se llevan a cabo los fines de semana en gimnasios que quedan cerca de mi casa. Esto me ayuda bastante, son recordatorios de donde y a que hora son las clases, y me ayuda a organizar mi día de tal manera que logro acomodar el tiempo para hacer ejercicio.

¡Tomar clases que nos gustan hace que el ejercicio sea divertido! Se que con Zumba bailaré y disfrutaré la música. Voy a sudar, haré cardio, y siempre salgo con una sonrisa y sintiéndome excelente! Con Yoga, se que me estiraré y haré ejercicios de equilibrio, salgo sintiéndome relajada.

¿Vas a alguna clase de ejercicio? Cual es tu favorita?

Un abrazo,
Paola

Tricks to Motivate Myself to Exercise : Trick #1

Posted on January 7, 2014 by phjiao

Hi friends,

Hope you had a nice weekend! The New Year has started and one of the most common new year’s resolutions people make is to exercise more and/or lose weight. If you follow my blog, you know I like to exercise, but I have to motivate myself to exercise. I don’t have a huge urge to exercise, but always feel better after I do it. I often wish I was like those people who wake up in the mornings with a huge urge and motivation to go for a jog, but I am just simply not like that. But, if I don’t exercise for a few days, I do feel the urge and need to exercise, at least go for a long walk! I sometimes have to trick myself into exercising. By trick, I mean I use different techniques to motivate myself to exercise. I exercise mostly to be healthy, it is also a good stress reliever for me, and of course, helps me stay in shape and fit into my jeans (always a plus)! I also love chocolate and certain snacks, exercising allows me to treat myself every one in a while and not have to deprive myself of my favorite foods.

I am going to write a series of 10 Tricks I Use to Motivate Myself to Exercise. I will list them in the order in which I enjoy them most and do them most often. Hope you enjoy reading about these and how they work for me….and if you need extra motivation to exercise, hopefully these will work for you too!

Do you have any tricks you use to motivate yourself to exercise? What are they?

Was exercising more often one of your New Year’s Resolutions?

Hugs,

Paola

Trick #1: Have an Exercise Buddy

My exercise buddy is my bff Lola. One of the first blog posts I wrote was about the positive things related to having an exercise buddy. As we get older and have more responsibilities (such as a full-time job, spouse to spend time with, dinner to make, errands to run, a house to clean, kids, pets, etc., etc.) we have less time to spend with friends. Spending time with friends brings happiness and a sense of belonging to our lives! On the days I exercise with Lola, I look forward to the end of the workday and to seeing her because I know I will enjoy my time with her. We usually exercise after work, we set a date ahead of time and stick to it (but if an urgent matters comes up and we need to change the date the other understands). Or main form of exercise is going for long speed walks by the bay downtown. We meet at Lola’s home and go for a long walk. During our walks, we talk about everything, we catch up on our lives! We laugh and we confide in each other. I never get bored of walking the same route (even though we do change it up every once in a while), because I am having fun with my friend! We call it our therapy. We laugh, we talk, and we walk! Sometimes, I may be having a very stressful day at work, but once I get to Lola’s home, I immediately de-stress, I can vent with her about my day or not even bring it up because once I get there we have some many other good things to talk about that I am able to leave the stress of my day behind.

Having an exercise buddy is a good way to motivate oneself to exercise! If you know someone is waiting for you, so you can exercise together, you are more likely to show up and exercise. Plus, if your exercise buddy is a good friend you enjoy spending time with, you know you will have a good time and it will be fun! So, you have so much fun that before you realize it, you have already walked a few miles and gotten a good workout! Exercising with a friend is not only good for your body, it is also good for your soul!

If you would like to read the blog post I wrote about having an Exercise Buddy, click here.

Do you have an exercise buddy?

Find of the Week: Sonicare

Posted on December 20, 2013 by phjiao

My teeth are important to me. Not just the appearance of my teeth, but the health of my mouth. I will need my teeth the rest of my life, so I try to take care of them. One of the products that I use to keep my teeth healthy is my Sonicare toothbrush. I have had a Sonicare toothbrush for about 15 years. I remember buying my first Sonicare for about $100 at Costco. Every few months I would change the brush head. That one lasted about 10 years, until I took it on a long trip to Europe and busted it by using the wrong converter for the charger. The charge lasts about 10 days, so the other times I had taken it on trips abroad I wouldn’t take the charger because I didn’t need it. If I was on a trip for more than ten days, I would use it as a manual toothbrush on the last days. After the trip where I busted the toothbrush charger, I did some research regarding prices and bought another one at Bed Bath & Beyond for about $90 (I used the store’s 20% off coupon). Believe it or not, a few years later, while on my honeymoon in Europe, I busted it again with the converter. I remember hearing a small blasting sound in the hotel room after the brush had been plugged in for about an hour, the next day my toothbrush wasn’t working. So, I bought another one, this time at Target, for about $75 or so (with mail-in-rebate offer). I preferred the first one I bought because it did a vibration motion which notified me when it was time to move to my other arch of teeth. The one I currently have does not have a vibration motion notification, but it does stop brushing after 2 minutes, which is the recommended time to brush your teeth. Needless to say, I have not taken my charger with me in the past trips we have made abroad. I plan to keep this toothbrush for a long time!

You may be asking yourself why I keep buying it over and over again. First of all the quality is excellent, I had the first one for about 10 years! It still worked perfectly. The handle had turned slightly off-white, but mechanically it was fine. I would probably still be using it if I hadn’t charged it improperly in Europe. I like this toothbrush because in addition to seeing the difference in my teeth, I feel it in my mouth. My breath is fresher in the morning when I use this to toothbrush. To avoid traveling with the toothbrush’s case, which is a bit bulky, I occasionally use a manual toothbrush on weekend trips. I can feel the difference on my teeth and in my breath when I wake up when I use a manual toothbrush.

According to usa.philips.com, the Sonicare toothbrush has three engineering innovations: Sonic technology drives bristle tip velocity, clinically proven results, and dynamic clean action for clean feel. It delivers more strokes in two minutes, than a manual toothbrush can in one month. It also removes up to seven times more plaque, resulting in a cleaner and healthier smile. It has soft bristles, a powerful clean, gently massages the gums which stimulates blood circulation and helps dislodge plaque.

It is true – the bristles are soft and my mouth feels really clean after I use the toothbrush. I have had less plaque and a healthier smile!

I decided to write this post because the Sonicare toothbrush is one of my favorite products – and it is on sale tomorrow and Saturday at Macy’s. When I saw the ad for the toothbrush, I started to think about who I could buy it for as a Christmas gift! It is that good of a deal. It is on sale December 20 & 21, before 1:00pm, for $39.99. That is the lowest price I have ever seen it at. It is regularly $199.99 and will be $79.99 after 1:00pm. So, if you want to buy a gift for yourself – get this toothbrush, your smile will appreciate it! Even though $40 may seem high for a toothbrush, if you buy four or six manual toothbrushes per year, you are already spending about $40 per year. If taken care of properly, a Sonicare toothbrush can last you for years, you only need to buy the brush heads and clean the base occasionally. I buy my replacement toothbrush heads at Target for about $25 for two. If you brush your teeth twice a day for two minutes each time, the brush head should be changed about every three months. The heads have a color indicator that let you know when it is time to change them.

If you miss the Macy’s sale, you can also find it on sale at Bed Bath & Beyond, a set of two Sonicare toothbrushes is $129.99. So, you could give it as a gift to your spouse or another family member….and for yourself at the same time!

Do you have a favorite toothbrush? If you buy a Sonicare, let me know what you think.

Hugs….and happy brushing,

Paola

This is the sale Macy’s is having on December 20 & 21, 2013, before 1:00pm.

This is the 2013 holiday ad from Bed Bath & Beyond.

This is my toothbrush at home – I keep it plugged in next to my bathroom sink.

This is the toothbrush case. It was included with my first toothbrush and I have been able to continue using it with my other toothbrushes. The brush heads come with covers, so those could be used to protect the toothbrush when traveling (if you don’t buy the case).

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Find of the Week: Sonicare